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Professor Naoki Sugimoto, Distinguished Professor of Konan University, has been awarded the František Šorm Memorial Medal, which is presented to outstanding scientists.

The award ceremony took place during the XIXth Symposium on Chemistry of Nucleic Acid Components, held in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, from June 8 to 13, 2025. Professor Sugimoto delivered his award lecture titled “All about ‘To B or not to B’ in Nucleic Acid Chemistry.”

The František Šorm Memorial Medal is an award conferred by the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), presenting recipients with a commemorative medal. Established to honor the achievements of Professor František Šorm, former President of CAS and founder and first Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB), this award is presented every three years to internationally distinguished scientists.

Professor Sugimoto has published numerous internationally outstanding research results and has led research in the field of nucleic acid chemistry. In particular, the methods for predicting the structure and stability of nucleic acids developed by Professor Sugimoto have significantly advanced research in the nucleic acid field internationally. This has enabled not only fundamental research into the role of nucleic acid structures within living organisms, but also a vast array of applied and practical research, including the development of pharmaceuticals using nucleic acids. Professor Sugimoto’s achievements in this regard have been highly recognized.

Congratulations on this award.